Stopping the Clock

Author's note: Wow I was really not expecting the response I got for this story. I know many of you said that you felt the characters were a bit flat in the last chapter and I worked to see if I could fix that in this one. As an important note: Keeping track of what time period they are in is going to be very important. To make it easy, I have put in breaks with the dates. The Year references what school year Hermione would be in Hogwarts. Enjoy the Second chapter! Written again for Kaylee the Great.

When she saw the bitterness that reflected in those dark eyes, the brooding storm that glinted like steal, Hermione reflexively touched the gold chain at her throat. Her fingers wound around the small charm before the young witch saw Viktor's gaze following her movement. Releasing it, she tucked it deeper into her robes. A flustered heat rose to her cheeks as she met those smoldering brown eyes. "What is it that you need me to do now?" she asked, trying to shake off the nervous tingle that seeped through her beneath his gaze.

"We need to move quickly," he replied, turning to look out over the school grounds as he drew his wand. "They are already on the way. Do you remember the Concealing Charm?"

"Of course," she replied briskly, taking out her wand. "But I can't perform magic. The Ministry of Magic will know because I'm not of age, and I'll be expelled from school."

A dark chuckle rumbled beside her. "You risked being expelled in your first year, and again in your second," Viktor returned, his deep voice amused. As something in the wind turned bitter cold, his tone abrubtly turned serious once more. "But you are worried about a simple spell. Does your Ministry prohibit defending yourself from attack?"

Startled by his question, she stared out over the grounds for a moment. There was a regulation which gave any magic being the right to defend from attack. But there was no battle at which to cite that condition. Realization suddenly crept into her veins as she saw his slightly wicked smile."Don't you-"

"Stupefy!"

"Protego!" The shied appeared to deflect the red jet of light back at him. Focusing as he flicked his wand lazily to deflect the blast, Hermione stared at his pleased smile as he shot off a second and third stunning spell for her, missing by inches.

"You are nearly as good as you were in your fifth year. But you hesitate…." He remarked, stowing his wand. "Use the concealing spell, and go home. Learn to use your Time Turner this year. On the seventh of February, in your seventh year, turn the dial back four turns to the right and twenty two times toward you. You must meet me here at eight or else we will have to start at the beginning. Understood?"

She nodded. "Yes but-"

"Hermione, go." Viktor ordered coldly. "They will be here at any moment."

"But-"

"Corpus Diluvium!"

She felt as though she were floating. It was almost pleasant really. Her body was moving along the darkness toward some unknown destination. And she wasn't sure she minded. Everything was so peaceful here.

A rushing wind sounded out around her body, sweeping her out of this place. She wasn't sure she wanted to go. But there was no choice as she was suddenly hurled from the dark into a bedroom. A sharp pain flashed through her body, and then there was nothing.

~December, Year 7~

Standing cautiously in the Forbidden Forrest, Hermione touched the Time Turner at her throat, feeling a hint of panic set in. He was late, more so than he should be. She had learned him, knew his quirks like the map of the school. And the only thing he hated with a rivalry to Voldemort was being late.

Fate had forced them to become something more intimate than mere allies, yet they had always been balanced. Her stubborn will against his dark brooding; her ability to understand, his inability to explain everything. There was a pause and then she felt his arms wrap around her from behind, directing her quickly and silently as they moved toward the school. "You made it. The Watch has not made it through yet, but we will have to be ready to jump when they do," he stated as they ran across the grounds.

The winter snow's blanket crunched under their feet, leaving only shallow tracks which were quickly swept away by the heavy snow. Winter held a majestic beauty about the grounds; she wished they had time to admire it. But business came before beauty.

Seven years had turned her into a graceful young woman who was sure, steady. Though she had kept her tenacity, she had also kept some of her sense. I wish things had not turned out in such a way… It gave me Viktor but stole everything else into the night, she thought pensively as they moved. We've been in a loop of history and no matter how careful we are it always seems to loop back upon itself to trap us. I can't believe the world was meant to fall. It has only been a few years, but it seems to be centuries. We are substance, and nothing, all at once. The only way to make sure we survive is to keep the past from changing, while altering the future in the same motions.

Holding up a hand as she spotted a pair of dark hooded figures walking across the grounds, Hermione crouched as she drew her wand, cautious as she spotted the mark of a dragon on their sleeves. As Viktor motioned for them to go around, she shook her head, pointing toward the walls where two faint shadows jutted above the battlements. Someone was up there; they would be spotted.

For a time they remained still, and then he silently took hold of her hand. "Take the two on the wall," his mind whispered to hers. "I will handle the others." Nodding, she slid away from him into the night. Silent spelling was the simplest for her. Simple, yet effective and it wouldn't give away their position. Recognizing the blonde hair of Malfoy, and the darker locks of Snape, she let a vengeful smile tilt her lips. She had taken seven years worth of hell from them. Payback was surely going to be sweet. Concintrating on Malfoy, she jabbed her wand sharply. "Silencio." In the quiet that now sat, no one would notice a difference when she took care of Snape unless he tried to take up conversation.

Hexing the Potions Master and (now) Head of Hogwarts would be a serious offence if her younger self were to have indulged in her fantasy's then. But she was beyond his authority now, and she fully intended to use that right. A spell of her own creation suddenly popped into her brain as a malicious chuckle escaped her lips. This is for everything you put Harry, Ron, and I through. 'Illusian Arachne!'

As the Nightmare spell flew toward him, she watched his figure. There was a flurry as he suddenly drew his wand and slashed it out into a silver shield which rebounded the Hex. "We have an intruder. Malfoy, go alert the Death Eaters. I'll be damned if it isn't the Granger girl," he spit. As only silence followed, he turned to the incompetent blonde. "Why are you still there?! Can't you- Fraya!"

Leaping back before the binding spell could strike, she cursed as she jumped into the shadows. She had forgotten the talent Snape had in dueling. Throwing up a shield that let out a resounding boom as the next curse struck it, she glanced out over the grounds to where Krum was dueling both Death Eaters. Taking a moment to focus, the young woman willed her body to shift into her form.

Animagus forms were difficult, but not impossible to achieve. It had taken several tries until Viktor had explained that it was more about the will than the magic. His own form, surprisingly, was that of a russet wolf. Watching as he shifted, she lept forward into her own. Ever since the Polyjuice potion incident, she had achieved the form of a mountain lion. The lithe form, Viktor had told her with a hint of a smile at her success, fit her. "Sleek, yet intelligent" had been his description, and he had refused to explain what he meant.

Dodging spells as she ran towards him, she willed her body to leap the small hillock as they bolted for the Shrieking Shack. Dark forms were now filling the wall tops; spells were being fired closer. Snarling as one singed her shoulder, she darted between the Whomping Willow's branches to strike the knot on the trunk. Morphing as they dropped down, she nodded to Viktor. "It's over here…" she said softly, opening the cupboard beneath the stairs. "This is what we're looking for. It has your name on the edges, where you signed it for me at the World Cup."

"Yes, I remember," the Bulgarian nodded, pushing the pin of his Turner so that a wave of magic burst out, silencing all the clocks. "The ring should still be inside." A crooked grin touched his lips. "Your engagement ring."

Flushing, she handed it to him as he approached before letting out a soft squeal as he swept her into a tight hug. Feeling his breath tickle her ear, the young witch turned her gaze to his, accepting the kiss. A fire burned between them, moving like electricity through the stolen moments to heat the room. Breaking it off so that she could breath, she found her sense of balance. "I love you," she whispered, stroking his cheek softly. "I don't need a ring to know you're what I need."

As the same smile stole across his face, he pulled her tight to him. His body held her protectively as he breathed her waterfall like scent which hung about them. "I-"

His grasp suddenly went rigid becoming a prison about her body. "How touching," a voice sneered mockingly. "I didn't realize you were capable of this, Granger. But I suggest you put your wand away. Or Mr. Krum is going to find out the effects of the Cruciatus curse."

You know what to do.